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Roger Tory Peterson
(28 Aug 1908 - 28 Jul 1996)
American ornithologist, author and conservationist who wrote and skillfully illustrated wildlife field books on birds. He was a committed environmentalist.
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Science Quotes by Roger Tory Peterson (7 quotes)
Birds ... are sensitive indicators of the environment, a sort of “ecological litmus paper,” ... The observation and recording of bird populations over time lead inevitably to environmental awareness and can signal impending changes.
— Roger Tory Peterson
In Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America (2008), 10.
Butterflies are very interesting. Here these things are little grubs for a while. And then they go into a little coffin. There they are in a sarcophagus, and then they come out and dance with the angels.
— Roger Tory Peterson
As quoted by Lisa Foderado in 'In The Studio With Roger Tory Peterson; Reluctant Earthling', The New York Times (26 Aug 1993), C1.
Butterflies may be better indicators of the health of our environment than birds.
— Roger Tory Peterson
In Roger Tory Peterson’s Dozen Birding Hot Spots (1976), 202.
Not all is doom and gloom. We are beginning to understand the natural world and are gaining a reverence for life - all life.
— Roger Tory Peterson
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Penguins are an indicator of the health of our watery planet, and if they are unable to survive, we had better take notice or we might find our own survival threatened.
— Roger Tory Peterson
In Penguins (1998), 160.
The philosophy that I have worked under most of my life is that the serious study of natural history is an activity which has far-reaching effects in every aspect of a person’s life. It ultimately makes people protective of the environment in a very committed way. It is my opinion that the study of natural history should be the primary avenue for creating environmentalists.
— Roger Tory Peterson
As quoted in William V. Mealy, Peter Friederici and Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Value in American Wildlife Art: Proceedings of the 1992 Forum (1992), 3.
Vultures are homely, but they clean up all the garbage and that’s good. And they’re elegant in the sky.
— Roger Tory Peterson
As quoted by Lisa Foderado in 'In The Studio With Roger Tory Peterson; Reluctant Earthling', The New York Times (26 Aug 1993), C1.
See also:
- 28 Aug - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Peterson's birth.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
